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Development and transformation of social structures

Civilization: Indus Valley

Name:Bobby Albright





Theme
 How does this theme apply to your civilization?
Gender roles and relations
  • The Aryans used a patriarchal system, where men dominated society. Only men were priests, warriors, and tribal chiefs. Also,the Aryans recognized descent from the male line.
  • Women influnced affairs in their homes, but had no public authority.
  • Men were typically more educated than women.
  • The Lawbook of Manu said that men were to treat women with respect. It also said that the main purpose of a woman was to bear children.
Family and kinship
  • Women influences the household, but men were considered head of the household.
  • Only men could inherit property unless there was no male heirs.
  • The males presided over the family rituals.
  • The women worked in the household.
  • The men had the real jobs and the woman's main job was to bear children.
Racial and ethnic constructions
  • The caste system was origninally based of the color of people's skin, ergo their skin determined what social class they were in.
Social and economic classes
  • They used the caste to determine social classes.
  • In this system, there were four main groups, or "varnas", which were determined by th color of one's skin. They were priests; warriors and aristocrats; cultivators, artisans, and merchants; and landless peasants.
  • Later, the added the category of untouchables-people who performd dirty or unpleasant tasks.
  • The caste sytem was quite flexible, however, and the lower classes started to gain better work and the higher classes started losing power.
  • The catste system played a large role in maintaining social discipline in India.